Breech Tilt

The Breech Tilt is a widely-known inversion technique to help a breech baby flip to a head-down position.

Use this technique 1-3 times a day if you are told your baby is breech. You can start as early as 30-32 weeks and continue through to the time that you know that your baby is head down. Some doctors suggest starting later because most babies flip on their own. The Breech Tilt is not invasive. Ask your doctor if there is any medical reason not to do a Breech Tilt for your breech baby starting after 30 weeks. Alternatively, the Forward-Leaning Inversion is recommended at any weeks gestation for any fetal position.

Before doing the Breech Tilt, I suggest doing the Forward-Leaning Inversion for 30 seconds first and then going ahead with the Breech Tilt. For more understanding, read the Flip a Breech under Baby Positions. Read About Breech to see what I think the causes of breech babies may be, who are doing vaginal breech births, and what the risks might be for breech.

For Balance, the womb hangs from cervical ligaments stretching the ligaments slightly. When you get up the ligaments relax. With repetitions, this helps the lower uterine segment become more balanced. Better Balancing Acts: The Forward-Leaning Inversion, and chiropractic with Webster’s. Use these activities together.

For Gravity, gravity moves the baby onto his or her head. The weight of the baby’s body now bends the neck to help the chin to tuck on the baby’s chest (flexion). Tucking the chin helps baby flip, just as it helps a gymnast flip.

Also, the hips are encouraged to either come out of the pelvis or stay out of the pelvis. After the chin tucks, the baby is ready to move head down- if there is room to get the head to swing down and there is room in the lower uterine segment to receive the head.

How to do the Breech Tilt

Get a broad plank of wood, like an ironing board.

Prop it at an angle against the couch or a chair. A few pillows stuffed around the base will help prevent tipping.

Another pillow goes under your neck.

The funny thing is next. Lie on the board with your head down and feet resting on either side of the board on the couch.

Try it a couple times to get it right. Remain on the board for up to 20 minutes, 3 times a day.

The Breech Tilt position is for creating the best angle to back a breech baby out of the pelvis to allow the baby to flip. Hanging out in this position may also help baby tuck the chin as the baby’s head presses into the top of the uterus.

Open-Knee Chest; Alternative to the Breech Tilt

In the UK and Australia, women are encouraged to do the Knee-Chest position for 10 minutes, 3 times a day to help their breech baby turn head down. A study was done that showed improved rates of baby flipping compared to not doing some type of inversion.

Open Knee Chest by Patience Salgado

Here is Gail and two Spinning Babies Workshop participants showing how to do the Open-Knee Chest position with support. I’ve got a scarf wrapped over her thighs to help keep the weight off her chest and face. She puts her shoulders over the feet of her (sitting) helper. The mother’s face is completely between the helper’s feet!

Summary

What: The Breech Tilt

Photo by Tanya Villano

Why: To encourage flexion and to prevent engagement of the breech presenting baby.

When: 30 weeks to birth. Most women will do breech tilts daily, 3 times a day, from 34 weeks until the baby flips and use additional techniques during that time as well.

How: A sturdy board (shelf board, ironing board) is set so that the high end is 15-21 inches above the floor. A couch may help stabilize the top of the board while a pillow underneath may help it

When not to: If you have a head down baby, don’t do this exercise to try to rotate a posterior baby, for instance.